The Boulder Tour Of Solar And Green Homes
October 12th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Buyer's Corner, Focus on Boulder, Selling Thoughts, Trends
Last week, was the Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Homes and I was reminded of how lucky I am to live in Boulder Colorado. Where else can you tour green built or re-modeled homes all in one day - I was in heaven! You never would have found something like this in the town I grew up in. The morning of the event, I went downtown to register and pay the reasonable $10 fee, then I walked along the vendors booths checking out the eco-friendly companies of Boulder. As a real estate agent, I found great resources for my clients before I even left for the tour. Click here to get an overview of what I learned.
Hosted by the Center for ReSource Conservation, the Tour of Homes ranged from newly-built and remodeled net-zero-energy homes to a community that collectively financed 32 of 40 homes with solar, and a 1902 home originally designated the most inefficient home in Colorado, which was remodeled to be 28% more efficient than a new home built to code in the city of Boulder. 
One of my favorites was the Home Energy Makeover House because it demonstrates how to turn an older home into a more energy efficient one. Many homes in Boulder are older and this home is a great example of what we can do. Some of their makeover included energy efficient window replacement, duct cleanings, natural shading, ceiling and wall insulation, and a high-energy tankless water heater.
Another great home on the tour was the Garland Tree House which was a extensive remodel from the 1960 ranch it once was. Following the USGBC LEED for Homes program, they installed active and passive solar, widening of walls to incorporate installation, and a heat recovery ventilator with an air filter to provide fresh air during the winter.
Ever heard of a retrofit? If homes were retrofitted to consume net zero energy, greenhouse gas emission would be greatly reduced. The Zero-Energy Retrofit was part of the tour and after an Energy Audit, they decided to install a flat-plate solar collector for domestic water heating with tankless high-efficiency electric boiler for backup. By replacing the domestic hot water, the home’s energy consumption reduced. Get this - to cover costs, Sean Geiger received a “green” home equity loan which covered most upfront purchases!
The Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Homes was just a small part of Solar Week, which was sponsored by Lighthouse Solar and Astralux. Solar Week also included a week full of workshops including Home Energy Improvements Made Easy, which my husband attended. So, this weekend he is busy weatherizing our home. Adding insulation around exposed pipes, sealing holes, and caulking around our windows are just a few of the helpful ideas he got from the workshop. I’m hopeful that this will help reduce our energy bill during the winter.
Buyers, builders, sellers, real estate agents, and environmentalists all could learn something during Boulder Solar Week and the Tour of Solar and Green Homes. Boulder is indeed a progressive town and I feel proud of my earth conscientious community. Luckily, Boulder isn’t the only community involved in the American Solar Energy Society’s National Tour of Solar Homes. It is one out of 422 communities in 44 states that participate. Check out one near you and be a part of this vital, global movement.
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